Selected Electronic Reference Sources for Christianity
- Encyclopedia of ReligionThis 2nd edition reflects changes in academia and in the world since 1987. Includes almost all of the 2,750 original entries as well as approximately 600 entirely new articles. Takes cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture.
- Oxford Dictionary of the Christian ChurchIncludes information on all aspects of the Christian Church. Contains over 6,000 A-Z entries, and offers coverage of all aspects of this vast and often complex subject, from theology; churches and denominations; patristic scholarship; and the bible; to the church calendar and its organization; popes; archbishops; saints; and mystics.
- Oxford Encyclopedia of the ReformationIncludes information about the entire range of religious and social changes that altered the face of Europe in the sixteenth century, encompassing not only issues of church polity and theology but also developments in politics, economics, demographics, art and literature. Allows for a comprehensive social and intellectual history of early modern Europe.
- Melton's Encyclopedia of American ReligionsCoverage of more than 2,300 North American religious groups in the U.S. and Canada -- from Adventists to Zen Buddhists. Includes essays and directory listings describing the historical development of religious families and providing factual information about each group within those families. Includes, when available, rubrics for membership figures, educational facilities and periodicals.
- Catholic EncyclopediaCorresponds to the 1913 first printed edition of the Catholic Encyclopedias. This online version is nearly 90% complete and the articles are continually being transcribed from the print to the web.
Starting with Background Information
Become familiar with the ideas, major concepts and basic vocabulary in your chosen research area. Such background knowledge places your topic in a wider context, deepens your understanding and helps you feel more comfortable with it.
- Encyclopedias are a great place to get an overview of a topic that is new to you.
Encyclopedias often identify narrower areas within the broad subject, which may suggest a focus for your research. Many encyclopedia article entries also provide a list of references that can help you locate further, more in-depth and scholarly information sources. - Work from general to specific.
If a general encyclopedia doesn't provide enough background information, continue your research with focused subject encyclopedias. Wikipedia can be a place to find specific names, dates and events, but use it mainly as a jumping off point. The library has scholarly subject encyclopedias which provide reliable and in depth information. - Subject dictionaries can help define unfamiliar words and specialized terminology when researching a new subject in specific disciplines.
- Remember: Encyclopedias are good starting points, but don’t contain ALL the information you'll need on a subject for college level research.
- Get started: Look up your keywords in the indexes to subject encyclopedias. Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the context for your research. Note any additional keywords and relevant items in the references at the end of the encyclopedia articles.
Selected Print Reference Sources for Christianity
The encyclopedia of Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection BR95 .E8913 1999Encyclopedia of early Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection BR162.2 .E53 1997 (also online)The history of Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection BR150 .H57 1990The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church
Call Number: Reference Collection BR95 .O8 2005 (also online)Dictionary of Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection BR95 .D48 1996Historical dictionary of ecumenical Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection BX6.3 .V36 1994The Blackwell encyclopedia of modern Christian thought
Call Number: Reference Collection BR95 .B58 1993 (also online)Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels
Call Number: Reference Collection BS2555.2 .D53 1992 (also online)The Macmillan atlas history of Christianity
Call Number: Reference Collection G1046.E4 L5 1976Religious leaders of America
Call Number: Reference Collection BL2525 .R47 1991Encyclopedia of the American religious experience : studies of traditions and movements
Call Number: Reference Collection BL2525 .E53 1988Augsburg historical atlas of Christianity in the Middle Ages and Reformation
Call Number: Reference Collection G1796.E4 A5 1967Handbook of denominations in the United States
Call Number: Reference Collection BL2525 .M425 1995Religious Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000 by
Call Number: Ref BR526 .R4689 2002ISBN: 091442226X